Abstract
Tsetse flies, which transmit sleeping sickness to humans and nagana to cattle, are commonly controlled by stationary artificial baits consisting of traps or insecticide-treated screens known as targets. In Kenya the use of electrocuting sampling devices showed that the numbers of Glossina fuscipes fuscipes (Newstead) visiting a biconical trap were nearly double those visiting a black target of 100 cm×100 cm. However, only 40% of the males and 21% of the females entered the trap, whereas 71% and 34%, respectively, alighted on the target. The greater number visiting the trap appeared to be due to its being largely blue, rather than being three-dimensional or raised above the ground. Through a series of variations of target design we show that a blue-and-black panel of cloth (0.06 m2) flanked by a panel (0.06 m2) of fine black netting, placed at ground level, would be about ten times more cost-effective than traps or large targets in control campaigns. This finding has important implications for controlling all subspecies of G. fuscipes, which are currently responsible for more than 90% of sleeping sickness cases.
Highlights
Tsetse flies (Glossina spp.) transmit the fatal diseases of sleeping sickness in humans and the cattle disease nagana
Tsetse flies are commonly divided into three ecologically distinct groups: savannah tsetse ( = Morsitans group), which are largely responsible for transmitting the trypanosomes that cause the cattle disease nagana; riverine tsetse ( = Palpalis group), which play a major role the transmission of Trypanosoma brucei spp., the causative agents of human sleeping sickness; and forest tsetse (Fusca group) which, generally speaking, do not play an important epidemiological role
The use of artificial baits is favored for controlling riverine tsetse, partly because it is cheaper than methods such as the sterile insect technique and aerial spraying [3], and because it is suitable for community implementation [4]
Summary
Tsetse flies (Glossina spp.) transmit the fatal diseases of sleeping sickness in humans and the cattle disease nagana. Tsetse flies are commonly divided into three ecologically distinct groups: savannah tsetse ( = Morsitans group), which are largely responsible for transmitting the trypanosomes that cause the cattle disease nagana; riverine tsetse ( = Palpalis group), which play a major role the transmission of Trypanosoma brucei spp., the causative agents of human sleeping sickness; and forest tsetse (Fusca group) which, generally speaking, do not play an important epidemiological role. One of the most important methods of tsetse control is the use of stationary artificial baits that simulate host animals and consist either of three-dimensional traps or cloth screens that are treated with insecticide and known as targets [2]. For most of the riverine species of tsetse, traps rather than targets are commonly used and, since no effective odor attractants are known for these flies, the required density of baits is relatively great (.10/ km). Any economies in the bait control of riverine species would be welcome
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